Harley Flanagan

Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

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Cro-Mags Return With 'Don't Give In' EP, Their First New Release In 19 Years

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The Harley Flanagan-led lineup drops new music the frontman describes as "Metallica meets Minor Threat"
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 28, 2019 - 4:00 pm

Hardcore heroes Cro-Mags released their first new music in 19 years today, dropping the 3-song Don't Give In EP.

The band's lineup on the EP consists of Haley Flanagan, who won sole ownership of the Cro-Mags name in a legal settlement, on lead vocals and bass Gabby Abularach and Rocky George on guitar and Garry Sullivan on drums. As a result of the settlement, there is a separate iteration of Cro-Mags known as “Cro-Mags JM” featuring John Joseph, Mackie Jayson, A.J. Novello and Craig Setari, according to Consequence of Sound.

The new EP marks the first release under the Cro-Mags name since 2000's Revenge. After teasing on Instagram that the new music sounds like "Metallica meets Minor Threat," Flanagan described how the EP came together with Victory Records and Arising Empire in a statement: 

"I got a strange phone call in the middle of the night that turned out to be from Tony Brummel of Victory Records,” Flanagan said. “I thought it was a prank call; it turned out not to be, and I worked out record deals with Victory and Arising Empire in Europe. One of the many things that make me happy about signing with Victory and Arising Empire is that they are genuinely fans of my music and know the history; they are not just labels trying to make money off us or the genre.”

Don’t Give In is available digitally here, with a 7″ vinyl version due out Aug. 2.

The Velvet Underground's 'The Complete Matrix Tapes' Is Coming To Vinyl

Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift Plots 2020 World Tour With U.S. Dates For Lover Fest East & West

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Following dates in Europe and South America, Swift will land in the U.S. for Lover Fest East and West, where the pop star will open Los Angeles' brand new stadium
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 17, 2019 - 3:38 pm

Taylor Swift  will be spreading the love in support of her hit album Lover.in 2020, but it may or may not be in a city near you. The GRAMMY winner announced plans for her summer 2020 tour in support of her seventh studio album, including two shows each in Foxborough, Mass. and Los Angeles for Lover Fest East and West respectively as the only four U.S. dates announced so far.

The tour kicks off in Belgium on June 20 and hits festivals in seven European countries before heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil on July 18 then heading to U.S. Swift will then present Lover Fest West with back-to-back Los Angeles July 25 and 26 at the newly named SoFi Stadium. The concerts will serve as the grand opening of the much-anticipated NFL venue. The tour will wrap a double header at Gillette Stadiuim in Foxborough July 31 and Aug 1

"The Lover album is open fields, sunsets, + SUMMER. I want to perform it in a way that feels authentic," she tweeted. "I want to go to some places I haven’t been and play festivals. Where we didn’t have festivals, we made some. Introducing, Lover Fest East + West!" 

Lover was released Aug. 23 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Her sold-out tour for her previous album, 2017's Reputation, was the highest grossing U.S. tour ever, breaking her own record.

Tickets for the new dates go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster on Oct. 17. 

 

Daniel Johnston

Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage

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Daniel Johnston, Influential Singer/Songwriter, Dies At 58

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The singer, songwriter and visual artist has inspired and influenced many great rock and alternative artists over the past three decades
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 11, 2019 - 5:22 pm

Austin, Texas singer/songwriter and visual artist Daniel Johnston died of a heart attack on Sept. 10. He was 58 years old. 

A bigtime Beatles fan, Johnston began making homemade cassettes of his distinctive songs, gaining attention for his unique voice, elemental lyrics, undeniable pop instincts and gritty lo-fi recordings with accompanying hand-drawn artwork. He also fought a lifelong battle with mental illness and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Johnston attracted major label attention after many of the bands he influenced, such as Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo and Nirvana, found success. Johnston was signed to Atlantic and released Fun in 1994.

A wide range of rock and alternative artists were influenced by Johnston's work. Most famously, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain wore a t-shirt of Johnston's 1993 album Hi, How Are You at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, but many artists have covered Johnston's songs, including Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Lana Del Rey, Wilco, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, TV on the Radio, Sufjan Stevens and Beach House.

In 2005, a documentary called The Devil and Daniel Johnston won Documentary Directing Award at Sundance. Johnston retired from touring in 2017, but just earlier this year, the city of Austin made his Jan. 22 birthday “Hi, How Are You?” Day, honororing his contributions to music and his Hi, How Are You? project, which raises awareness for mental health issues.

Fans and fellow music makers have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late Johnston, including Beck, Jack Antonoff and Judd Apatow. He is survived by his by his brother Dick Johnston and sisters Margy Johnston, Sally Reid and Cindy Brewer.

Dan Warner, GRAMMY- And Latin GRAMMY-Winning Guitarist, Passes Away

Sheila E. & Snoop Dogg

Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

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"GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" To Air Oct. 18 On PBS

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The tribute concert will honor the Recording Academy's 2019 Special Merit Awards recipients, including Black Sabbath, Donny Hathaway, Dionne Warwick and more...
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 27, 2019 - 10:01 am

Get ready! The fourth annual "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" in collaboration with PBS' "Great Performances" series is set to air on Oct. 18 on PBS. The all-star concert will honor the Academy's 2019 Special Merit Awards recipients, including Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Eckstine, Donny Hathaway, Julio Iglesias, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick.

Aug 27, 2019 – 12:31 pm

"GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" To Air Oct. 18

Led by GRAMMY-nominated industry icon Greg Phillinganes as musical director and hosted by past GRAMMY nominee Sheila E, the celebration and tribute concert features rare performances by honorees and never-before-seen renditions of their classic songs by those they've inspired.  

The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement recognizes musical artists that have made significant contributions to the recording field. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Eckstine, Donny Hathaway, Julio Iglesias, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick. The Trustees Award honors areas outside of performance. Lou Adler, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, and Johnny Mandel are Trustees Award honorees. The Technical GRAMMY Award recognizes people and companies who have made outstanding contributions of technical significance to the recording field. Saul Walker is this year's ​Technical GRAMMY Award recipient 

Also being honored is Jeffery Redding, this year's recipient of the Music Educator Award, which is presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum.

Performance List (honoree in bold)

Dionne Warwick
"Walk On By" (performed by Johnny Mathis)
"What The World Needs Now" (performed by Dionne Warwick)

Sam & Dave
Medley: "Hold On, I'm Comin'"/"Soul Man" (performed by Sam Moore and Garth Brooks)
"I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" (performed by Sam Moore)

Lou Adler
"I Feel The Earth Move"/"It's Too Late" (performed by Jessie Mueller)

Julio Iglesias
"Caruso" (performed by Julio Iglesias)

Ashford & Simpson
Medley: "You're All I Need To Get By"/"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (performed by Valerie Simpson and Kenny Lattimore)

Johnny Mandel
"How Do You Keep The Music Playing" (performed by Patti Austin and Greg Phillinganes)
Medley: "The Shadow Of Your Smile"/"Suicide Is Painless" (performed by Patti Austin)

Black Sabbath
Medley: "War Pigs"/"Paranoid" (performed by Rival Sons)

Donny Hathaway
"A Song For You" (performed by Lalah Hathaway)
"Where Is The Love" (performed by Lalah Hathaway and Kenya Hathaway)

Billy Eckstine
"Everything I Have Is Yours" (performed by Gregory Porter)
"Dedicated To You" (performed by Gregory Porter and Patti Austin)

George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
Medley: "One Nation Under A Groove"/"Mothership Connection"/"Flash Light" (performed by George Clinton, William "Bootsy" Collins, Sativa, Eddie M, Sheila E., and Snoop Dogg)

The concert will air at 9 p.m. on Oct. 18 (check your local listings) and will be available via pbs.org/gperf and the PBS Video app.

Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic & More To Be Honored At GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends

Jermaine Dupri

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage

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Jermaine Dupri & T.I. Lead REVOLT Summit Atlanta Industry Speakers Lineup

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The three-day hip-hop summit will also feature Quality Control's Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas plus Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Ester Dean and more
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 20, 2019 - 5:10 pm

Hip-hop cross-platfrom media juggernaut REVOLT TV has unleashed the first wave of speakers for its REVOLT Summit Atlanta, set to toake place Sept. 12-14, and it packs quite the hip-hop punch. Led by GRAMMY winners Jermaine Dupri and T.I., the lineup also includes local Atlanta legends and Quality Control Founders Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas as Co-Chairs, AtlanAtlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter, producer and actriess Ester Dean.

“This is the first big announcement of many for REVOLT Summit in Atlanta,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs. “I’m excited that Coach K and Pierre “Pee” Thomas will join me as co-chairs of the Atlanta Summit.  We’ve got many big & exciting announcements to come that will include established artists, leaders & the real next generation of cultural voices.”

Dupri will join Dallas Austin and Rico Wade on "The Pioneers Panel," to discuss their storied careers and the impact of their work on Southern rap. T.I. and Mayor Lance Bottoms aong with Eboni K. Williams will take part in "Trap The Vote: Hip Hop & Politics," moderated by Jeff Johnson. Mayor Lance Bottoms will present Combs with  Atlanta’s “Key to the City,” the Phoenix Award.

Coach K and Pee will lead a discussion titled, "Quality Control: The Blueprint Behind Hip Hop's Most Influential Imprint," which will offer insight into the business of Hip Hop, cover their personal path to success and provide advice for attendees. The duo will also speak on "The Making Of Since The '80s" panel with Kei Henderson and Zekiel Nicholson. Dean, will participate in the Songwriting 101 panel and judge REVOLT's "Be Heard" competition featuring performances from five finalists selected from over 100 applicants.

Last month, REVOLT kicked things off with a preview event in New York. After the Atlanta Summit, the festivities head to Los Angeles Oct. 24-26.

Tickets for REVOLT Summit Atlanta and Los Angeles are available now via REVOLT's website.

Khalid, Carlos Santana & More To Mentor Underserved Aspiring Artists Through House Of Blues Foundation